Applicator for liquids



T. S. HARRIS APPLICATOR FOR LIQUIDS Jan. 25, 1927. 1,615,581

Filed Sept. 15, 1926 W NT R Wfiiw m AM, 1 m CMWWA V 49a ATT RN Y Patented Jan. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS STEWART HARRIS, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE AYER COMPANY, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

APPLICATOR FOR LIQUIDS.

Application filed September 15, 1926.

This invention relates to devices for applying liquids, and especially, although not exclusively, to devices of the type known as fountain combs for applying medicament directly to the scalp at the roots of the hair without soiling the hair or hands or otherwise distributing the liquid except at the desired point of application.

The invention has for its object to provide improved means for replenishing the supply of liquid as it is exhausted, and more )articularly to provide an improved container in which the liquid may be supplied and sold, in combination with means associated with the applicator whereby the container may be attached to the latter and communication between them automatically established in such a manner as to permit the liquid to be fed from the container to the applicator.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention, together with means whereby the latter may be carried into effect, will best be understood from the following description of a preferred form thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood however that the particular construction described and shown has been chosen for purposes of exemplification merely, and that said invention, as defined by the claim hereunto appended, may be otherwise embodied without departure from the spirit and scope thereof.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the container or bottle in which the liquid is supplied.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a fountain comb having the liquid container attached thereto.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the comb prior to the attachment of the container.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section of the connection between the comb and container and parts adjacent thereto.

In Fig. 2 is shown a fountain comb comprising a hollow header or chamber 10 and a suitable number of hollow teeth 11 communicating at their inner ends with the interior of the header 10 and having discharge openings at their outer ends. The flow of liquid from the discharge openings of the teeth may, if desired, be controlled by suitable valves operated by stems 12 which pro- Serial No. 135,585.

ject through the discharge openings and engage the scalp. These valves are not shown herein as they are well known in the art and form no part of the present invention.

In the form of the invention shown, the header or chamber 10 is provided with an interiorly threaded inlet 13 to receive an exteriorly threaded outlet neck 14 formed on the bottle or container 15 in which the medicament or other liquid to be applied by the comb is supplied. The bottle or con tainer 15 may be of any desired. form, but as shown is of elongated and flattened shape with the neck 14 located at one of its longer edges, whereby said bottle, when in place, will serve as a handle for the comb or applicator. The outlet end of the neck 14 is permanently closed by a cap 16 composed of frangible or readily ruptured material, such as thin sheet metal. Centrally supported, as by a spider 17, within the inlet 13 is a needle 18 having an enlarged pointed head 19.

Then the threaded neck 14 on the bottle 15 is screwed into the inlet 13, the cap 16 is forced against the pointed head 19 of: the needle 18 and punctured or ruptured thereby, this operation taking place automatically as an incident to the attachment of the bottle. By reason of the enlarged head 19, the opening formed in the cap 16 will be of greater diameter than the portion of the needle in the rear of said head, so that the liquid from the bottle will readily flow therefrom into the chamber 10.

It will be seen that, by suitably attaching the cap 16 to the neck Ll in such a manner that it cannot be readily removed, the bottle 15 is rendered substantially non-refillable for commercial purposes, since the closure as such is effectually destroyed when the bottle is used.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

An applicator for liquids comprising, in combination, a chamber having an inlet and liquid discharge means, a liquid container having a neck substantially fitting said inlet, a frangible cap closing said neck, and a needle supported in said inlet and having an enlarged pointed head for puncturing said cap.

In testimony whereof I aihx my si nature.

THOMAS STEWART HAfiRIs. 

